Safety reset valve device for burners



Nov. 10, 1953 w. F. JACKSON SAFETY. RESET VALVE DEVICE FOR BURNERS 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 15, 1951 INVENTOR.

Wilbur [Jackson BY HIS 41 mm kl a if Nov. 10, 1953 w. F. JACKSON SAFETY RESET VALVE DEVICE FOR BURNERS 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed May 15, 1951 INVENTOR. M/dbar FJw/z'son.

H15 ,qz'momz' Nov. 10, 1953 w. F. JACKSON 2,658,515

SAFETY RESET VALVE DEVICE FOR BURNERS Filed May 15, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVEN TOR. Wilbur F Jtwlisozz.

Patented Nov. 10, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SAFETY RESET VALVE DEVICE FOR BURNERS Application May 15, 1951, Serial No. 226,354

14 Claims. 1

This invention relates to combination controls for gaseous fuel burners and more particularly to controls wherein a safety shut-off operates upon a main burner control valve and the safety shutoff device also operates a pilot valve.

The present invention is characterized by a movable electromagnet which picks up its armature in response to energization by a condition responsive device when the electromagnet is moved into engagement with the armature, the electromagnet with the armature in its attracted position returning to its initial position upon completion of this resetting operation. The control valve is thus free to be moved between closed and open positions and may be actuated by a thermostat such as the rod-and-tu'oe type operating through a snap-action mechanism. However, when a preselected. condition is established such as the extinguishment of the pilot flame the electromagnet is deenergized and the armature is released to return under spring bias to its original position. The return movement of the armature is a path substantially coaxial with the valve member so that the latter is moved to closed position should the thermostat be holding it open. In this respect, the control is similar to that disclosed and claimed in the copending application of Wilbur F. Jackson, Serial No. 98,486, filed June 11, 1949, now Patent Number 2,604,266. The pilot valve is disposed laterally of the electromagnet and has an operating member operatively associated therewith for positioning the pilot valve to admit fuel to the pilot burner only during the resetting operation and while the armature is in attracted position.

It is a principal object of this invention to provide 100% shut-oil of fuel to all burners upon failure of the pilot flame.

Another object of this invention is to prevent flow of fuel to the main burner while permitting flow of fuel to the pilot burner during the resetting operation.

Other objects and advantages will appear from the following specification taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a sectional view of a control device embodying this invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line II-II of Fig. 1;

Figs. 3 and i are similar to Fig. 2 with the parts of the device shown in different operating positions;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary plan view of the device shown in Fig. l with a portion thereof shown in section;

2 Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view of another embodiment of this invention; and

Fig. '7 is a fragmentary sectional View of still another embodiment of this invention.

M am shut-op cock Referring more particularly to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing, the control device may comprise a casing iii provided at one end with a lateral inlet opening IQ for fuel and at the other end with an outlet opening It which is adapted to be connected by suitable piping with the main or heating burner of a water heater or other appliance (not shown) A valve chamber It is formed in the casing Ill intermediate the inlet I2 and outlet ii and the passage or" fluid fuel between the inlet l 2 and the valve chamber it is under control of a main shutoff cock I2. As best shown in Figs. 1 and 5 the shut-off cook it is provided with an angular port it which is movable upon rotation of the cock it by the usual knob 15 to open and close communigatialng between the inlet i2 and the valve chamer The shut-off cook it is also provided with an arcuate groove 22 through which communication may be established between the inlet 12 and a pilot passage 2 3. The arcuate groove 22 is movable into and out of registry with the pilot passage Zi upon rotation of the shut-off cock ill, the cook it thus controlling the passage of fuel through the pilot passage 2 Communicating with the pilot passage 26 is a filter chamber 26 in which is disposed a fuel filter 29 of a type well known in the art. The filter chamber 26 also communicates by way of a passage (not shown) with a pilot valve chamber 23 which is provided with an outlet (not shown) adapted for connection to a conduit leading to the pilot burner of the appliance.

Control valve mechanism A partition til projects from diametrically opposite walls of the valve chamber it and provides a support for an annular valve seat member 32 therein. Also supported on the walls of the valve chamber it is an annular bearing support member 36 which carries an axial hollow boss 36 through which a hollow valve stem 38 slidably extends. A disk valve member it is mounted on the valve stem 38 for movement therewith between open and closed positions relative to the seat 32. The valve member ii) is normally biased toward the seat 32 by means to be more fully described. The central portion of the valve seat 32 is perforate to provide communication between the valve chamber l6 and the outlet l4 when the valve member 413 is in open position.

The hollow valve stem 33 contains an override mechanism comprising a plunger 42 and biasing spring 44 which serves to urge a collar 46 on the plunger 42 into engagement with a bushing 43 closing the inner end of the hollow valve stern 38. The plunger 32 projects through the bushing 43 for operative engagement with a clicker mechai nism of well known form including athrust element 59 which is disposed within the annular bearing support member 34 for imparting snapaction movement to the valve member 46.

Temperature regulation Thermostatic means for operating the valve member 4!] through the clicker disk mechanism is provided and, in this embodiment, consists of an element of the rod-and-tube type. 54 of this thermostatic element is mounted at one end in the valve casing l and has a rod 52 threadedly secured thereto at the opposite end. The inner end of the rod 52 extends into the casing it for operative engagement with one side of a slidable cap element 55 which is carried in the valve casing H3. The opposite side of the cap element 55 engages the thrust element 59 of the clicker mechanism for operating the same as will more fully appear.

Suitable means for mounting the control in the water heater or other appliance is provided by an elongated boss 58 projecting from the casing It around the rod-and-tube element 52, The

temperature at which the valve member 88 will be operated may be adjusted by means of the usual lever 68 carried by the rod 5t and manually operable for rotating the rod 52 relative to the tube 54. It will be understood that other well known thermostatic devices may be substituted for the rod-and-tube element 52, 54.

Automatic shut-01f Electromagnetic means is provided for moving the valve member 49 to closed position in response to a predetermined condition, preferably extinguishment of the pilot burner flame, regardless of the thermal condition of the thermostat 52, 54. To this end, a magnet housing 62 is provided at one side of the casing l0 opposite the elongated boss 58 and extending coaxially with the valve member 40. The interior of the magnet housing 62 communicates with the valve chamber I6 and a flexible sealing disk 84 extends across the interior of the housing 62 at its junction with the valve chamber 16 for closing the communication therebetween. Thus, passage of fluid from the valve chamber 6 to the interior of the magnet housing 62 is prevented.

The sealing disk 64 carries a spring retainer 65 secured thereto by an axially located rivet 66. A 0011 spring 6'! is operative between the valve member 40 and the retainer 65 and serves to bias the valve member 40 toward the seat 32 as previously indicated.

A magnet cover 68 is mounted within the housing 62 for slidable movement therein toward and away from the sealing disk 64. The cover 68 is biased toward the outer end of the magnet housing 62 by a coil spring iii operative between the cover 63 and the housing 62. An electromagnet comprising a horseshoe frame It has its bight secured to one end of the cover 68 by a rivet 16 extending through these members. The usual winding 73 has one end secured to the rivet 16 The tube to provide a ground connection and the winding continues in the form of a pair of coils 19 around the legs of the horseshoe magnet 14. The opposite end of the winding 18 extends through a suitable aperture in the cover 68 to the exterior thereof and is formed into a loop 8| between the inner face of the cover 68 and the adjacent end of the housing 62. The looped end is secured in a socket 83 which is adapted for electrical connection to a source of electrical energy which source may comprise a thermocouple (not shown) having a hot junction adapted for exposure to the pilot burner flame.

An armature 82 is supported within the magnet cover 58 on an armature stem 84 and is separable from the pole faces of the magnet 14 for movement between attracted and released positions. The armature stem 84 is slidably supported in a bearing 85 formed in the cover 68 and projects out of the cover into abutting engagement with the rivet 66 on the sealing disk 64. The armature 82 is biased to its released position by a coil spring 26 operable between the cover 68 and a retaining plate 83 carried on the projecting end of the armature stem 84. As the spring 8:: is considerably stronger than the valve spring 61, sufiicient force is exerted thereby on the valve member 40 to hold the same in its closed position relative to the valve seat 32 whenever the armature 82 is disengaged from the pole faces of the magnet I4. It should be observed however that the coil spring Ill is considerably stronger than the armature spring 86 for a purpose which will more fully appear.

In devices of this type wherein a thermocouple adapted to be heated by the pilot flame is utilized to generate the electrical energy, the energy so generated is insufficient to attract the armature 82 from its released position but is suflicient to hold the same in its attracted position after the usual resetting operation has been conducted. Consequently, manual resetting means is provided for moving the magnet 14 into engagement with the armature 82 and takes the form of a resetting button 96 which projects from the magnet housing 62 and engages at its inner end with an annular boss 9| formed on the end face of the cover 68. A coil spring 92 is housed within the button 99 and engages at its inner end with the magnet cover 68 for biasing the button as outwardly of the magnet housing 62. A flange 94 is formed on the inner end of the button for cooperation with a suitable flanged end of the magnet cover 62 to prevent ejection of the button 90 therefrom under the bias of its spring 92.

Pilot burner control To obtain shut-off of fuel to all burners, auxiliary or pilot valve means is provided for controlling the supply of fuel to the pilot burner and is operatively associated with the electromagnetic shut-oif device so that the pilot valve is in open position only while the resetting means is in operation and while the armature is in the attracted position.

The pilot Valve means may take the form of the pilot valve chamber 28 which, as hereinbefore pointed out, communicates with th filter chamber 26 and with a conduit leading to the pilot burner (not shown). An annular valve seat member 96 is positioned in the valve chamber 28 in threaded engagement with the walls thereof and is provided with a centrally disposed valve port 98. Slidably carried in the valv port 98 is a non-circular valve stem I00 which carries a disk valve member M2 at one end. A spring I04 acting between the valve member W2 and a cap E96 threaded into the open end of the valve chamber 23 serves to bias the valve member H32 toward the valve seat member lit. When the valve member N52 is in its biased position and in engagement with the valve seat member 9% fluid flow through the valve chamber is prevented. Conversely, when the valve member an is positioned away from the valve seat its, fuel is permitted to flow from one side of the valve seat member 96 to the other side thereof through the valve port Elli, passing between the surface of the non-circular valve stem Edit and the walls or the port 98 and thence to the pilot burner. Thus the flow of fuel to the pilot burner is controlled by the valve member M2.

The valve chamber 28 is open at one end and is positioned laterally or" the electromagnetic shut-ofl device to register with an aperture I08 formed in the magnet housing 62. Communication between the valve chamber 23 and the interior of the magnet housing 62 is prevented by a flexible sealing disk I Iii which is clamped across the open end of the valve chamber 28 by the annular valve seat member 9%. Abutting one side of the flexible disk 5 it is the free end of the valve stem Hi8 and abutting the other side of the disk is a movable plate li t. Operatively connected to the plate l iii is an operating member movable laterally of the armature stem 84 during the resetting operation. The operating member is here shown as a pin i it slidably mounted on the magnet cover 6% in a bearing lit to extend substantially normal to the axis of the armature stem at. One end of the pin liii engages the plate li t and the other end. contacts a cam surface formed on the armature stem 86.

The cam surface with which the pin lit engages is formed by a portion B29 of the armature stem 53 having a relatively small diameter, a portion 522 or the valve stem 85 having a relatively large diameter and spaced axially from the portion iii and a frustro-conical portion I241 of the armature stem 8d connecting the portions I29 and H22. It will be apparent that the bias of the spring illl acting on the pin H6 through the valve member i582, valve stem lite, flexible sealing disk lit and movable plate H will hold the pin lit in engagement with the armature stem 8 5 so that when the pin lit is moved with the magnet cover (it, it will follow the contours of the portions till, it l, I22 and the cam surface formed thereby will thus be effective to control the lateral displacement of the pin Ht relative to the magnet housing 62.

Operation When no fuel is flowing to the main or pilot burners, the various parts of the control device are positioned as shown in Fig. 3. The armature 82 is in its released position with the armature stem til acting under the bias of the spring 86 to hold the valve member ltl against the valve seat 32 and the pin ME engaging the portion I of the armature stem to permit the pilot valve member M2 to engage the valve seat 96 under the bias of the spring ltd.

To Place the control device in operative condition, the main shut-oif cock iii is manually rotated to the position shown in Fig. 5 wherein the arcuate groove 22 establishes communication between the inlet 52 and the pilot passage 24. In such position of the shut-off cock l8, fuel will flow from the inlet 52 through the arcuate groove 22, the pilot passage 24, the filter 29 in the filter chamber 26 and through the communicating passage (not shown) to the pilot valve chamber 28.

The resetting operation is then conducted by applying manual pressure to the button for moving the magnet cover 88 and magnet M jointly relative to the armature 82 to positions shown in Fig. 4. During this movement, the coil spring 10 is compressed, the bearing member 55 moves relatively to the stem 8 3 and the coil spring 86 is somewhat compressed. It will be observed that the winding it does not interfere with free movement of the magnet M- due to the provision of the loop 8! which also eliminates any stress in the electrical connections. This movement also causes the pin H6 to move axially of the stem $34, the end thereof riding up the frustroconical portion I24 of the stem 84 and onto the surface of the relatively large diameter portion The pin H6 is thus moved laterally relative to the armature stem 84 to force the movable plate [l4 and its associated valve stem IE3!) downward, as viewed in the drawings, against the bias of the spring I04 to position the pilot valve memberlilZ in its open position away from the valve seat Q5. Fuel will then flow through the valve port 98 in the valve seat to the pilot burner (not shown) where it may be ignited by a match or the like.

The flame at the pilot burner may heat the hot junction of the thermocouple (not shown) to cause the same to develop suflicient current to energize the winding iii of the electromagnet. The

': reset button is then released and the bias of the spring it serves to retract the magnet cover 68 and the magnet i l to their initial positions. However, the armature B2 is now carried along with the magnet i l and the coil spring 86 is retained in its compressed condition. The various parts of the device are now as shown in Fig. 2.

It will be apparent that the armature stem 8 3 can no longer exert a force on the rivet 5b carried by the sealing disk 6t so that the valve member id is freed for movement to open position relative to the valve seat 32. It will be apparent that when the armature 82 is in its attracted position and thus movable with the magnet it there can be no movement of the armature stern 8 t relative to the pin H6 since the pin H6 is also movable with the magnet M. Thus upon completion of the resetting operation, the pin HS remains in contact with the surface of the relatively large portion lZZ of the stem 85 to maintain the pilot valve member 32 in its open position and fuel will continue to flow to the pilot burner.

The main shut-off cook it may now be rotated to a position wherein the angular passage 2i: formed therein is in communication with the inlet E2 to permit flow of fuel into the valve chamber 16. In such position of the cock I8, the arcuate groove 22 still maintains communication between the inlet [2 and the pilot passage 24.

It should be observed that movement of the valve member it to open position cannot occur, due to the bias of the valve spring ill, until the thermostat 52, 5/3 is adjusted by manual operation of the lever 6b to a desired temperature setting and operation of the main burner is demanded by the thermal conditions sensed by the thermostat. Upon a demand for heat, the rod 52 exerts a force on the thrust element 5i! and the clicker mechanism opens the valve member 40 against the bias of the valve spring 61. Flow of fuel from the inlet I2 through the valve chamber I6 and the perforate valve seat member 32 to the outlet I4 is now permitted and operation of the main burner in the usual manner can occur.

When the temperature sensed by the thermostat 52, 54 reaches that for which the adjustment has been set, closure of the valve member 38 occurs under bias of the spring 61 and is permitted due to reverse positioning of the clicker mechanism as is well known to those skilled in the art. During this normal reciprocation of the valve member 40 in controlling flow of fuel to the outlet I4 the armature 82 remains engaged with the pole faces of the magnet 14.

In the event that the flame at the pilot burner is extinguished, the supply of current to the electromagnet will be cut off and, upon deenergization of the electromagnet, the armature 82 will move away from the pole faces of the magnet I4. Such movement of the armature 82 is due to the bias of the coil spring 86 and serves to bring the armature stem 84 into operative engagement with the rivet 66 carried by the sealing disk 64 to force the rivet 66 into engagement with the valve member 40 and cause closure thereof. As previously indicated, such closure will occur regardless of whether the thermostat 52, 54 is operating to hold the valve member 30 in open position due to the provision of the override connection within the hollow valve stem 38, the bias of the override spring 44 being overcome upon release of the armature 62 by the stronger bias exerted by the coil spring 06. The hollow stem 38 moves relatively to the plunger 42 during compression of the override spring 44 without causing reverse operation of the clicker mechanism as in normal thermostatic operation.

Movement of the armature 82 from attracted to released position will also cause the armature stem 84 to move relative to the pin II6 to position the surface of the smaller portion I20 of the stem 84 in engagement with the pin H6. The pin II6 thus is moved laterally relative to the armature stem 84 to permit the spring I04 to move the pilot valve member I02 into engagement with the valve seat 96 thereby cutting off the flow of fuel to the pilot burner. The various parts of the control device are now positioned as shown in Fig. 3 and no fuel can flow to any of the burners.

The modified construction illustrated by Fig. 6, in which parts corresponding to parts heretofore described are designated by corresponding reference numerals having the suffix a, is a departure from that shown in Figs. 1-5 in that different means is employed for imparting movement to the pilot valve member Him. In the embodiment of Fig. 6, the operating member movable laterally of the electromagnetic device for actuating the pilot valve takes the form of a lever I26 pivotally mounted at one end on a plate I28 secured to the free end of the armature stem 84a. The lever I26 is positioned alongside the magnet cover 6811 and underlies the pilot valve means for operative engagement with the free end of the valve stem Ia.

A cam element carried by the magnet cover 68a is cooper-able with the lever I26 to move the free end thereof into operative engagement with the valve stem IBM. The cam element may take the form of a rounded boss I30 formed on the magnet cover 68a and adapted for engagement with an offset portion I32 of the lever I26.

In the resetting operation, axial movement of the magnet 74a and magnet cover 68a relative to the armature 82a will cause the offset portion I32 of the lever I26 to ride up on the boss I30 pivoting the lever I26 about its pivotal support and forcing the free end thereof into operative engagement with the pilot valve stem I00a to move the pilot valve member I02a against the bias of the spring I04a to its open position. Upon completion of the resetting operation, the magnet cover 68a and magnet 1411 are returned to their initial positions by the bias of the spring 10a, the magnet 14a carrying along the armature 82a and the lever I26 attached thereto. Thus, there is no relative movement between the armature 82a and the magnet cover 68a and the free end of the lever 126 is retained in its laterally extended position to maintain the pilot valve member I02a in the open position.

Upon movement of the armature 82a to its released position, the lever I26, being movable therewith, will move relative to the magnet cover 68a causing the offset portion I32 thereof to ride down the surface of the boss I30 to move the free end of the lever I26 toward the magnet cover 68a and out of engagement with the valve stem NM. The valve member I02a will then move under the bias of the spring I04a to the closed position and supply of fuel to the pilot burner will be cut off.

The modified construction illustrated by Fig. '7, in which parts corresponding to parts heretofore described are designated by corresponding reference numerals having the suflix b, is a departure from that shown in Figs. 1-6 in that the operating member movable laterally of the electromagnetic device takes the form of a lever I34 pivotally mounted on the magnet housing 621). The lever I34 is positioned alongside the magnet cover 6822 with its free end underlying the pilot valve stem I001) and is provided with an offset medial portion I36. A circular plate I38 having a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the magnet cover 68b is secured to the free end of the armature stem 84b and serves to retain the free end of the lever I34 in a laterally extended position as will more fully appear.

In the resetting operation, movement of the magnet 14b toward the armature 8212 causes the magnet cover 68b to move relative to the lever I34, the inner edge of the magnet cover 641) engaging the offset portion I36 of the lever I34 to move the lever I34 in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in the drawings. counterclockwise rotation of the lever I34 imparts an upward movement to the valve stem I00b to move the pilot valve member 402!) against the bias of the spring I04b to open position.

Upon completion of the resetting operation, the magnet cover 68?) and magnet MD are returned to their initial positions under the bias of the spring ifib and the armature 82b, in engagement with the pole faces of the magnet Mb, is carried along therewith. The plate I38, which is movable with the armature 62b, is thus carried under the free end of the lever I34 to retain the same in its laterally extended position wherein it holds the pilot valve member I02b in open position.

When the magnet Mb is deenergized, the armature 32b moves to its released position under the bias of the spring 062;. The plate I33, moving "with the armature 82b, is moved from under the free end of the lever I34 thereby releasing the lever I34 to move in a clockwise direction and permit the pilot valve member I02b to be moved into engagement with its valve seat under the bias of the spring lll lb.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that the illustrated embodiments provide 100% shut off of fuel to all burners upon failure of the pilot flame. It will also be apparent that the illustrated embodiments prevent flow of fuel to a main burner while permitting flow of fuel to a pilot burner during the resetting operation accordingly accomplish the objects of the invention. On the other hand, it will be understood that many changes may be made in the details of construc" tion and arrangement of parts to accomplish the purposes of this invention without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

It is claimed and desired to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In a control device, the combination of valve means movable between controlling positions, electromagnetic means adapted to govern the op eration of said valve means, said electromagnetic means including a movable electromagnet having an armature separable therefrom for movement between attracted and released positions, resetting means operable for moving said electromagnet into engagement with said armature, auxiliary valve means movable between controlling positions, auxiliary valve actuating means cooperable with said electromagnet and said armature for moving said auxiliary valve means to one of said positions during the resetting operation, means for retaining said auxiliary valve means in said one position, and an operative connection between said armature and said last named means for rendering said last named means effective while said armature is in said attracted position and ineffective while said armature is in said released position.

2. In a control device, the combination of a movable electromagnet having an armature separable therefrom for movement between at tracted and released positions, valve means movable between controlling positions independently of said armature and having operative engagement with said armature in said released position thereof, means for biasing said armature to said released position and holding said valve means in one of said controlling positions, resetting means operable for moving said electro magnet into engagement with said armature, means effective upon completion of the resetting operation for retracting said electromagnet and causing movement of said armature out of operative engagement with said valve means to free the same for movement to another of said controlling positions, auxiliary valve means movable between controlling positions, and auxiliary valve actuating means cooperable with said electromagnet and said armature for moving said auxiliary valve means to one of said controlling positions during the resetting operation and retaining said auxiliary valve means in said one position while said armature is in said attracted position.

3. A control device as claimed in claim 2 wherein said actuating means is ineffective to retain said auxiliary valve means in said one position while said armature is in said released position.

4. In a control device, the combination of control valve means movable between controlling positions, electromagnetic means adapted to govern the operation of said control valve means, said electromagnetic means including a movable electromagnet having an armature separable therefrom for movement between attracted and released positions, resetting means operable for moving said electromagnet into engagement with said armature, auxiliary valve means disposed laterally of said electromagnetic means and movable between controlling positions, an operating member operatively associated with said auxiliary valve means, said operating member being mounted for longitudinal movement with said electromagnet and being free to move laterally thereof, and cam means defining a surface engageable with said operating member during the resetting operation for placing said auxiliary valve means in one of said controlling positions, said cam means defining a second surface engageable with said operating member for retaining said auxiliary valve means in said one position, and connecting means between said cam means and said armature for maintaining said second surface in engagement with said operating member while said armature is in said attracted position.

5. A control device as claimed in claim 4 wherein a housing is operatively associated with said electromagnet for movement therewith, said operating member comprising an element slidably carried by said housing.

6. In a control device, the combination of control valve means movable between controlling positions, electromagnetic means adapted to govern the operation of said control valve means, said electromagnetic means including a movable electromagnet having an armature separable therefrom for movement between attracted and released positions, resetting means operable for moving said electromagnet into engagement with said armature, auxiliary valve means disposed laterally of said electromagnet and movable between controlling positions, and operating member operatively associated with said auxiliary valve means, cam means movable with said electromagnet and engageable with said operating member during the resetting operation for placing said auxiliary valve means in one of said controlling positions, means for retaining said auxiliary valve means in said one position, and an operative connection between said armature and said last named means for rendering said last named means effective while said armature is in said attracted position and ineffective while said armature is in said released position.

7. A control device as claimed in claim 6 wherein said operating member comprises a pivotally mounted lever.

8. A control device as claimed in claim I wherein said lever is operatively connected to said armature to be movable therewith.

9. Actuating means for a valve mechanism having a valve member movable between controlling positions and biased to one of said positions comprising an electromagnet having an armature separable therefrom for movement between attracted and released positions, said electromagnet being movable relative to said valve mechanism, resetting means operable for moving said electromagnet into engagement with said armature, a cam element carried by said armature, and a follower element mounted for longitudinal movement with said electromagnet but being free for lateral movement relative thereto, said follower element being operatively connected to said valve member and cooperable with said cam element only during the resetting operation and while said armature is in said attracted position to place said valve member in another of said controlling positions.

10. In a control device, the combination of a movable electromagnet having an armature separable therefrom for movement between attracted and released positions, valve means movable between controlling positions independently of said armature and having operative engagement with said armature in said released position thereof, means for biasing said armature to said released position and holding said valve means in one of said controlling positions, resetting means operable for moving said electromagnet into engagement with said armature, means effective upon completion of the resetting operation for retracting said electromagnet and causing movement of said armature out of operative engagement with said valve means to free the same for movement to another of said controlling positions, auxiliary valve means disposed laterally of said electromagnetic means and movable between controlling positions, an operating member operatively associated with said auxiliary valve means, said operating member being mounted for longitudinal movement with said electromagnet and being free to move laterally thereof, and cam means carried by said armature to be engageable with said operating member during the resetting operation and while said armature is in said attracted position for placing said auxiliary valve means in one of said controlling positions, said cam means being ineffective to so position said auxiliary valve means while said armature is in said released position.

11. A control device as claimed in claim 10 wherein a housing is operatively associated with said electromagnet for movement therewith, said operating member comprising an element slidably carried by said housing.

12. In a control device, the combination of a movable electromagnet having an armature separable therefrom for movement between attracted and released positions, valve means movable between controlling positions independently of said armature and having operative engagement with said armature in said released position thereof, means for biasing said armature to said released position and holding said valve means in one of said controlling positions, resetting means operable for moving said electromagnet into engagement with said armature, means efiective upon completion of the resetting operation for retracting said electromagnet and causing movement of said armature out of operative engagement with said valve means to free the same for movement to another of said controlling positions, auxiliary valve means disposed laterally of said electromagnet and movable between controlling positions, an operating member operatively associated with said auxiliary valve means, cam means movable with said electromagnet and engageable with said operating member during the resetting operation for placing said auxiliary valve means in one of said controlling positions, and means operatively connected to said armature and cooperable with said operating member for retaining said auxiliary valve means in said one position while said armature is in said attracted position, said last named means being ineifective to so position said auxiliary valve means while said armature is in said released position.

13. A control device as claimed in claim 12 wherein said operating member comprises a pivotally mounted lever,

14. A control device as claimed in claim 13 wherein said lever is operatively connected to said armature to be movable therewith.

WILBUR F. JACKSON.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 

